Chapter 3.

“Oh, come on Raven, please don’t be difficult!”. Mum groaned as she held up the dresses for me to choose.

“How many times do I need to tell you I’m not going!”

“It’s just one evening. One evening, Raven, and that’s it, you don’t have to bother for another year”.

“Ugghh”. I growled in my throat with frustration. “Mum, what is the point in me going? I don’t have anyone there to talk to, it’ll be boring, besides no one’s even going to notice if I’m not there”.

“Oh, for goodness sake, you’re not a child, so stop huffing and just pick one! Just do this for me and your dad. As it is, we have to come up with some lie as to why your uncle’s not going, it’ll just be even more suspicious if we have to lie for you too”.

“You don’t need to lie for me, just simply tell them, I don’t want to go”.

“Raven! I am asking you to do this!”

I exhaled in a humpf as I got off my bed. “Ok, fine, that one then!”. I told her as I pointed to a long strapless black dress. “At least with it being black, hopefully I can blend into a dark corner somewhere”. I commented with an eye roll.

“Or, you might just be surprised and actually enjoy yourself”.

“Ha! Yea, I highly doubt that”. I replied as I took the dress and hung it up on my closet door.

“Oh, Raven. You know they expect everyone to be there. It’s a celebration, it’s important for our pack to come together, it’s a big event, you know that”. She said in an understanding voice. “I know it’s been hard for you to grow up here, with what happened, but just do this tonight and I promise I won’t ask for you to attend any of the other parties they host”.

“Well, I’m holding you to that promise”. I said with a playful smirk in an attempt to lighten our moods.

“Ok.” She said as she clasped her hands together. “We better start getting ready then. You know, with your father being the palace guard, we are expected to be one of the first to arrive”.

“I know. I’ll get ready”. I reassured her. She flashed me a quick smile then headed to her own room. “Yipee!” I groaned to myself once I knew she was out of earshot.

As I walked down the stairs with my dress tailing at my heels, I heard a sudden gasp and awe sounds coming from my parents as they waited in the hall for me. “Ohh you look beautiful”. Mother chimed with a dreamy look.

“Muuum, please don’t”. I told her as I stood in front of them.

“Well, you can hardly blame her, sweetie. You do look wonderful”. Father joined in as he looked proudly down at me. He tucked his forefinger under my chin and gave me a smile.

“You’re growing up too quickly my little Raven. But I’m as adamant as I was back then. It’ll take one hell of a man to deserve such a beauty”.

“Oh my gosh dad”. I moaned with a slight grin. “You’re worse than mum”.

He laughed as he held out his arm for me to take and led me and mother out of the house and on our way to the yearly celebration dance.

I gulped down my nerves as we reached the entrance of the palace, with its huge, pristine white double doors, gold plated knockers and stone roman pillars standing on each side. I hated coming here, being around so many people that looked down on me and judged me all in one go, like I was a riff raff, or a homeless urchin brought in from the streets.

“You’ll be fine, sweetie”. Dad whispered as we approached the doors. “Keep your head up and be proud of who you are”.

I tried to take in what he said as I straightened my back, put my chin up and looked directly ahead of me as I forced myself to pretend that I was one of them enough to justify being there. The doors were opened by two men that were standing guard in tuxes.

“Good evening”. They welcomed us and the noise from inside flooded outside as my father nodded t the guards and we walked elegantly and poised into the hall.

The bright chandeliers above us were twinkling as musicians played their instruments in the background, a soft gleefully melody to start the night. The clinking of champagne glasses as people cheered one another in greeting as people mingled and strolled around in their expensive dresses and suits. In the middle of the room, stood Alpha Caleb and Luna Addison. Of course, she was dripped in diamond jewellery that just seemed to clash all too much with her sparkly silver dress. A little tiara balanced on her over-sprayed hairdo as she smiled whilst looking down her nose as the high and mighty royalty she thought herself to be. Alpha Caleb was his usual loud and show-off self, purposely exposing his expensive gold watch as he bellowed his laughter with the men standing around him.

“Right, let’s mingle then, shall we?” Father said as he let out a long breath. I figured he found these things just as tiring as I did.

I held tightly onto his arm as I followed him and mum around. Silently nodding to people, we passed by and pretending to be interested in a conversation my parents stopped to have with all different members of the pack.

I maintained my party face, with a fake smile and absolutely no eye rolling, just clutching onto my dad's jacket every time I felt any nerves setting in, every time I could hear Violet’s cackle or see her friends walk past, not hesitating to give me a cold stare. Father might not like these parties much, but I had my ex-bullies here that had made my school years hell! I quickly took hold of another glass of champagne from the waiter passing by and swigged half of it in one go, I just needed something to encourage me to keep this fake smile plastered on my face.

“Come along sweetie”. Father suddenly said to me. “Looks as though it’s time for the speech”.

Woopde-do! I inwardly moaned to myself as we made our way near to the front of the crowd where the stage rested. The alpha and Luna stood in the centre smiling to the clapping as everyone applauded them to the stage. Then Leo made his way over to them with a wide smiling Violet, trying to clasp his hand as her pink and white flouncy dress trailed behind her.

“Thank you, thank you everyone”. Alpha Caleb began to speak as the clapping subsided. “Well, your Luna and I would like to thank you all for coming here tonight. As you all well know, each year we make this night a celebration to how far we’ve come as a wolf pack and how much our land has thrived thanks to generations that have fought tirelessly to make it a home. Safe for us to live, have children and to grow old in a place we can call our own. So, let’s all cheers to my ancestor Bernard Whitlock, who found this land and made way for what it is today. Please raise your glasses with me, here’s to the Whitlock wolf pack that will succeed through the generations to come!” He toasted as we all held up our champagne, took a sip and, once more, an applause erupted as they left the stage and made their way back to the throng of people again.

Just as I was beginning to relax, father’s hand took hold of mine as he loosened it from around his arm. I looked at him in sudden worry. “You’ll have to excuse me sweetie, Alpha Caleb looks as though he wants a private word”.

“What, now?”

“Yes. I have to do regular rounds checking the perimeter and making sure the guards are staying at their posts. I promise I won’t be long”.

“Ok…” I simply agreed as I let him go, but my head kept drumming, Dammit, dammit, dammit! I looked over at my mother who was already engrossed in a conversation with two other women, and I thought how ridiculous I was to want to hang onto her until he got back. I shook my head and did my first eyeroll of the night and decided I needed to be me Raven, not fake Raven! At least when I’m being myself I can handle any comments or judgemental stares, I can shake them off, as if it is nothing. But being in this tight black dress with my hair curled and high heels on, trying to ‘fit in’… well screw it, I don’t. I strutted over to a long white cloth covered table that had an array of delicious little bite-sized foods. I thought I’d quickly nab some while there’s not too many people there and before it’s all gone, and I become even more moody cause I’m hungry.

I picked a little cracker that had a little red sauce of some sort on it and caramelised onion, I stuffed it in my mouth and moved on for the next thing, having a little taster of each delicately made item by the palace’s talented chefs. I groaned inwardly at how delightful it tasted. If no one was around, I’d be stuffing more than one thing into my mouth at a time cause it tasted that good!

“Hmm, no matter how much you try to dress something up, sometimes it can still just be a lost cause”. I heard Violet's voice approaching. I rolled my eyes… for the second time and brushed off her comment. “Your poor parents, having just a regular human for a daughter”. She jibed.

I turned around to look at her and eyed her dress up and down. “Oh, violet, I hardly recognised you without your nipples and arse hanging out. My, my you could almost pass for an actual lady!” I retorted, giving her a taste of her own medicine.

“Ugh!” She croaked as her jaw dropped, her eyes burrowing together at me. “At least I have a place in this pack. Why don’t you just do us all a favour and go live with the other humans?”

“Why don’t you do us all a favour and keep that cackling trap of yours shut for once”.

“Oooh. Someone’s feisty tonight!”.

“And someone’s looking like a toilet roll holder tonight! I mean, come one Violet, how many ruffles does one dress need!”

“Uhh, I’ll have you know this dress is incredibly expensive. In fact, the Luna picked it out herself, especially just for me”. She said as she perched her lips together and folded her arms, as if that information would make me jealous.

“Hmm, maybe she was hoping all of those ruffles would finally keep your nipples from being on full display”. I fired back with a grin.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are but….”

“Is there a problem here?” Luna Addison interrupted our fun little roasting. She stalked over already giving me a daggered look.

“No problem, Luna Addison. Just Raven here being a little tyrant as always”. Violet told her with a smug attitude.

The Luna tutted as she enclosed our circle and Violet's friends began to stand behind her, as if she really needs her little groupies right now! “Well, is that so?” She asked, staring hard at me.

“Well, actually that’s not quite the truth. I was just getting something to eat when Violet took it upon herself to come over and mock me. She said things and I said things, but that’s all. Moments over now, so if you’ll excuse me Luna Addison, I’ll just go and find my parents”.

“Oh, wait a moment there Raven”. Addison said as she lightly put her fingers on my shoulder, as to stop me but not wanting to really touch me.

“Now, listen here, my girl. I think you owe Violet an apology!”

“What?” I asked, baffled. “I didn’t say anything that she didn’t deserve”.

“I suggest you have a little think about your complete lack of respect as she may very well be your future Luna!” She stated and as I glanced at Violet, I caught her smarmy smirk. She was loving it! “You see, Raven…” Addison began to lower her voice as she stepped closer to me, leaving only a small gap between us as she was almost towering over me. “I’m finding it rather difficult to think of a reason as to what purpose you have in this pack! Well, if it wasn’t for your father being such a valuable guard, it wouldn’t surprise me if the alpha chose to send you on your way!”.

“But I’m not a criminal, you can’t just send me away!” I replied, trying to stick up for myself, but Addison, with how tall and cold she always looked, she was pretty intimidating, and my voice came out a lot weaker than I’d expected.

“Well, it’s almost criminal to allow a mere human to live among our pack!. She insulted back.

“I’m not just a mere human!”

“Oh, forgive me Raven, am I mistaken? Has your wolf announced itself yet? I’m sure I would have heard about it if that were the case”. She said with a sarcastic tone. “So, tell me Raven, am I mistaken?”

I looked up at her, feeling myself surrounded by scornful looks and smirks. I clenched my jaw as I could feel my expression turned into a scowl. “No”. I spoke through my teeth.

“Well then, perhaps it's high time we rethink your value to this pack and whether its best or not that you remain here… or leave! Afterall Raven, at your age with no wolf, you most certainly are..just..a..human!” She said as she tried to hide the smile that wanted to form from the pleasure she was getting by putting me in my place, which was low… way low down to the ground, as small as she could possibly make me feel.

“What’s going on?” Another voice approached which made us all jump. I looked over to see Leo staring at us all with a frown, suspicious as to why we were all huddled into a small group, with me directly in the middle.

I took that as my cue to get away from them. “Excuse me, Luna Addison”. Deserving or not, I gave her the standard respectful courtesy, turned away and made aim for the rear garden doors.